You may recall the posting about two weeks ago (June 6, 1998) about changesbeing made in the Japanese school mathematics curriculum due to the changeof schooling from 6 days per week to 5 days, beginning in the year 2002.[I am including it again below.]

I just received a note from a Japanese colleague in which it was mentionedthat the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbusho) has not publicly statedthe information contained in the newspaper article; that is, the reporterhad a different source(s) for the information in the article. Inparticular, the percent of reduction in content has not been publiclydisclosed by the Ministry.

Also, it was mentioned that Japanese mathematics educators are interestedin comments on and reactions to the information in the posting.

Any readers who have comments or reactions are welcome to send them to me,and in due course, I will forward them to our Japanese colleagues.

In this connection, let me say that I will be out of town for about amonth, returning only for a day each weekend. Nevertheless, I will forwardany notes I receive in as timely a fashion as I can.

All good wishes.

Jerry

P.S. I am sending this to exactly the same list of addresses that theearlier note went to.

**************************************************************

Changes in the new Japanese Course of Study (COS)

On the front page of the May 24th, 1998, issue of the "Asahi" newspaper inJapan, major changes in the new Course of Study (Mathematics) werereported.

These changes are due to the changes in the school calender in Japan --the school week will be reduced from six days per week to five days in theyear 2002.

Accordingly, there is a 30% reduction in mathematical content in theelementary school syllabus (grades 1-6) and a 36% reduction in the lowersecondary school syllabus (grades 7-9).

At the upper secondary level, a new course called 'MathematicsFundamentals' will be instituted. In the course, some history ofmathematics and mathematics used in daily living will be taught. The courseis especially for students who dislike mathematics and has the objective offostering their interest in the subject, and motivating them for learningmathematics.

Note: Elementary school is grades 1-6. Lower secondary school is grades 7-9. Upper secondary school is grades 10-12.

Note: I do not have any further information about these changes at this time.********************************************************************Jerry P. BeckerDept. of Curriculum & InstructionSouthern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, IL 62901-4610 USAFax: (618)453-4244Phone: (618)453-4241 (office)E-mail: JBECKER@SIU.EDU